Under 15 Soccer Drills, Games, and Exercises

5v3v1 Rondo Possession Drill

This drill sharpens possession skills while teaching players to quickly switch between attacking and defending roles. Players learn to recognize when they win or lose the ball and immediately adjust their positioning and mindset. The team of three works on keeping possession against one defender, then must quickly transition to defense when they lose it. The single player learns to pressure and transition to attack when winning the ball. Outside players develop awareness of when to support and how to maintain possession in tight spaces. This constant switching builds mental quickness and helps players stay focused during the transitions that occur in real games.

11v5 Positional Rondo

This drill teaches your full team to keep possession while maintaining positions on the field. Players learn where they should be in your formation and how to support teammates from their specific spot. The positional constraint forces players to understand spacing, passing lanes, and how their role fits into the team shape. The five defenders work hard in a numbers down situation, building fitness and pressing coordination. The attacking team of eleven develops patience in possession and learns to move the ball through different lines of the formation. Adding goals for the defenders creates real consequence for losing the ball, making players focus on smart decisions under pressure. This drill bridges the gap between basic possession work and full game situations.

3v1 Rondo

This drill builds the foundation of possession soccer by teaching players how to keep the ball in tight spaces. Players learn to create good angles of support, move intelligently without the ball, and position their bodies correctly when receiving. The small grid forces quick decisions and sharp passing. Attackers practice opening their hips to see the whole field and using their back foot to receive passes smoothly. The drill teaches deception through body feints and eye contact that mislead the defender. Players develop the speed and accuracy needed to move the ball before pressure arrives. The consequence of becoming the defender when you make a mistake keeps everyone focused and accountable. This simple but effective drill appears in training sessions from youth levels all the way up to professional teams.

6v1 Overload Add Defenders Drill

This drill builds players' ability to think quickly and adapt as defensive pressure increases. Starting easy with six attackers against one defender, the drill gets harder each time a new defender enters. Players learn to recognize space, make faster decisions, and adjust their positioning as numbers change. The attacking team develops creativity and problem solving skills as they figure out how to keep possession against growing pressure. Defenders work on coordination and learn to press as a unit. The transition element is huge because when the ball changes hands, players must instantly switch their mindset from attack to defense or defense to attack. This mirrors real game situations where numerical advantages shift and players need to respond immediately.

Three-Cone Passing Drill

The three-cone passing drill focuses on passing, awareness, and movement after the pass. This is a great warmup to focus on passing technique and movement after the pass.

4v2 Rondo

The 4v2 Rondo is a great soccer possession game to work on passing, angles of support, and movement off the ball to maintain possession.

4v4 Scrimmage to Mini-Goals

The objective of a 4v4 soccer scrimmage to mini-goals is to replicate the dynamics of a full-sided game in a smaller, more controlled environment. This format encourages players to focus on quick decision-making, positioning, and maintaining possession under pressure, as well as improving their ability to transition between attacking and defending. The mini-goals emphasize accuracy and composure in front of the goal, helping players develop finishing skills without the presence of a goalkeeper.

3v1 Transition Rondo

The 3v1 Transition Rondo drill emphasizes quick combination passing to unbalance the defender and shift the point of attack to an adjacent grid. This exercise challenges the defender to transition rapidly between areas, enhancing their ability to react under pressure. The focus is on sharp passing and strategic movement to exploit defensive weaknesses.

Hexagonal Rondo

The Hexagonal Rondo drill focuses on quick passing and movement within a six-sided grid, emphasizing control and spatial awareness. Players work to maintain possession by creating passing angles and exploiting gaps in the defensive shape. The objective is to enhance technical precision, quick decision-making, and fluid team coordination.